The Oxford Very First Dictionary, with its colourful clear layout and familiar first words, each with a simple definition and illustration, is a fun and easy way for young children to learn how to use a dictionary. An illustrated section at the end on topics such as colours and days of the week provides additional support for early literacy.

This major new edition of the Oxford First Dictionary has been designed to inspire an early love of words. Specially written to be perfectly accessible to first readers, with inspiring modern 3D images on every spread. Children will find it fun to explore and easy to find the words they need fast!

The Oxford English Dictionary is the internationally recognized authority on the evolution of the English language from 1150 to the present day. The Dictionary defines over 500,000 words, making it an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, pronunciation, and history of the English language. This new upgrade version of The Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition on CD-ROM offers unparalleled access to the world's most important reference work for the English language. The text of this version has been augmented with the inclusion of the Oxford English Dictionary Additions Series (Volumes 1-3), published in 1993 and 1997, the Bibliography to the Second Edition, and other ancillary material. System requirements: PC with minimum 200 MHz Pentium-class processor; 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended); 16-speed CD-ROM drive (32-speed recommended); Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 200, or XP (Local administrator rights are required to install and open the OED for the first time on a PC running Windows NT 4 and to install and run the OED on Windows 2000 and XP); 1.1 GB hard disk space to run the OED from the CD-ROM and 1.7 GB to install the CD-ROM to the hard disk: SVGA monitor: 800 x 600 pixels: 16-bit (64k, high color) setting recommended. Please note: for the upgrade, installation requires the use of the OED CD-ROM v2.0.

This book tells the history of the Oxford English Dictionary from its beginnings in the middle of the nineteenth century to the present. The author, uniquely among historians of the OED, is also a practising lexicographer with nearly thirty years' experience of working on the Dictionary. He has drawn on a wide range of sources-including previously unexamined archival material and eyewitness testimony-to create a detailed history of the project. The book explores the cultural background from which the idea of a comprehensive historical dictionary of English emerged, the lengthy struggles to bring this concept to fruition, and the development of the book from the appearance of the first printed fascicle in 1884 to the launching of the Dictionary as an online database in 2000 and beyond. It also examines the evolution of the lexicographers' working methods, and provides much information about the people-many of them remarkable individuals-who have contributed to the project over the last century and a half.

The Oxford First Dictionary, now with new text and artwork, is the authoritative dictionary for children in their first years at school. Each page is a colourful, clear and accessible, introduction to the elements of a dictionary: 1500 entries in alphabetical order, simple, easy-to-read meanings, parts of speech (noun or verb), plurals, and topical examples sentences to clarify meaning. The full alphabet appears on every page with acoloured tab on the letter of the page - plus the dictionary quartiles are picked out in a vibrant colour. Together, these are invaluable navigation tools for the child who is practising their alphabet skills. Guidewords also appear on every page. All the artwork is new and each illustration adds to understanding as well as giving the book child-appeal. Extra material at the back accurately hooks in to the curriculum at this level. It includes information on the magic 'e', basic punctuation to create questions and statements, simple grammar,key overused words (with alternatives) as well as opposites, words we use a lot, irregular plurals, numbers, measurement, time, seasons, and colours and shapes.

The Oxford First Illustrated Dictionary, beautifully illustrated by well-known picture book artist Emma Chichester Clark, is the perfect first building block for 5-7 year-olds to engage with words and language. Over 2000 entries give clear meanings and definitions, parts of speech, word forms, word families, synonyms and opposites to build vocabulary and first literacy skills. Not just a dictionary, this unique book brings to life the world of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and picture books that children love. Winnie the Pooh and Georgie Porgie appear alongside Aladdin and Cinderella in the innovative example sentences. Rhyming words, little words hiding in big words, and riddles provide plenty of opportunities for fun word play, along with amusing word jokes and child-friendly word origins. The entry for 'crocodile' tells the child that the word comes from a Greek word meaning 'lizard' and ends with the joke: 'What's a crocodile's favourite game? Snap.'This wealth of information and fun with words is presented in a contemporary, easy-to-use, engaging layout, creating the most accessible and affordable dictionary and gift-book combination, the perfect buy for Christmas and holidays as well as for everyday use.

Over 500 words, in alphabetical order, with funny, useful, and interesting phrases to explain their meanings. The antics of Val Biro's monkeys, cats, mice, frogs and many other characters, make this a funny, friendly introduction to first dictionary skills.

Colourful first dictionary of familiar and new words for children just beginning school, with sentence examples and illustrations. Includes special section on colours, shapes, animals, fruits etc.

"We visit the ugly corrugated iron structure that Murray grandly dubbed the Scriptorium -- the Scrippy or the Shed, as locals called it -- and meet some of the legion of volunteers, from Fitzedward Hall, a bitter hermit obsessively devoted to the OED, to W.C. Minor, whose story is one of dangerous madness, ineluctable sadness, and ultimate redemption. The Meaning of Everything is a scintillating account of the creation of the greatest monument ever erected to a living language. Simon Winchester's supple, vigorous prose illuminates this dauntingly ambitious project -- a seventy-year odyssey to create the grandfather of all word-books, the world's unrivaled uber-dictionary. Book jacket."--Jacket.